Abstract: The architecture concerns a bus (BCM) incorporating magnetic coupling. The bus is structured in sections (S.sub.i-1, S.sub.i). The "coupler" elements (Bi) are disassociated from the "cable" elements (C.sub.b,i-1, C.sub.b,i) of the bus (B.sub.CM). The couplers (B.sub.i) themselves comprise a magnetic coupling module (1), constituted by passive elements, and an interface module (2) incorporating electronic interface circuits between the magnetic coupling module (1) and the subscribers (U.sub.i) by means of supplementary cables (C.sub.a,i). According to a first variant, the modules (1, 2) consist of single casings (10, 20) used as is or placed in a cascade configuration. According to a second embodiment, the modules are multiple and are placed in casings containing rectangular connectors for interconnection between casings.

Abstract: At least two pivoting jets (55a, 55b, 55c) of cleaning liquid, each directed between two successive lines of tubes substantially perpendicular to the rows of tubes, are sent, in succession, from locations situated inside the bundle of the steam generator, into a space between two successive rows of tubes so as to sweep the tube plate between a central part vertically in line with the space between the two rows of tubes and two outer parts situated at the periphery of the bundle and along the length of the space between the rows of tubes. The flow rate of cleaning liquid is at least equal to 20 l/min, per jet. The invention applies in particular to the cleaning of the tube plate of a steam generator of a pressurized-water nuclear reactor.

Abstract: A compression tool embossing die having a frame and a movable embossing pad. The frame has a U-shaped member and two side plates attached to opposite ends of the U-shaped member. The side plates have slots therein. The embossing pad has an embossing pad member, a dowel and a backstop. The dowel has its ends movably located in the slots of the side plates. The pad member has two wedge shaped slots in its bottom surface. The die further comprises two springs located in the wedge shaped slots and biasing the embossing pad at a first position on the frame.

Abstract: The device (15) for joining together a first plate (7) and a second plate (8)of the baffle assembly, which are located substantially at right angles, includes a screw (16) engaged in a housing consisting of an opening (18) passing through the first plate (7), and of a tapped blind opening (20) in the second plate (8). At least one opening (21) places an annular space (18b) around the shank (16b) of the screw in communication with the entry part (18a) of the opening (18) passing through the first plate (7), in order to deconfine the screw (16). The opening (21) may be a radial opening passing through a cup (17) against which the screw head (16a) comes to bear or an opening machined in the first plate (7) against a shoulder (18c) of the screw housing and the part (18b) of the opening for passing through the first plate (7) in which the shank (16b) of the screw (16) is engaged.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a housing and a contact strip. The housing has a receiving area with openings into the receiving area on opposite sides of the housing. The contact strip has a support of resilient conductive material, an insulating layer on the support, and signal conductors on the insulating layer. The contact strip is located in the receiving area with portions of the signal conductors located at the openings at the opposite sides of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining both the axial and angular positions of a defect in a tube wall. The apparatus includes a probe head positioned at the end of an elongated probe carrier having an imbedded orientation indicator. In the preferred embodiment, an encoder measures the angular orientation of the probe head when facing the defect relative to the angular orientation of the carrier and a photodetector and reflective strip measure the angular orientation of the carrier relative to a known orientation. A data processor uses this data to calculate the angular orientation of the probe head and the location of the tube defect.

Abstract: A conductor is formed from a single unitary sheet of metal and is bent so as to form a body portion and two overlapped flange sections. The flange section which is immediately adjacent the contact surface to which the conductor is connected may include at least one surface scratching projection which extends outwardly beyond the undersurface of that flange section to scratch and make electrical contact with the contact surface to permit electric flow between the conductor and the contact surface.

Abstract: A probe positioner for placing a monitoring device into the confines of a boiler or steam generator vessel. The apparatus includes a support arm having a plurality of links and hinges pivotally connecting the links. A handle is attached to a flange connected to the first link to provide axial rotation between first and second support arm orientations. A monitor mount for mounting monitoring devices is attached to the end of the third link opposite from the second link. The support arm is adapted to remain in the first support arm orientation while being horizontally placed through an opening in an inner and outer substantially vertically oriented wall and pivot downwardly at each hinge along the inner wall as the support arm is rotated from the first support arm orientation to the second support arm orientation without fully horizontally extending past the second wall.

Abstract: A connector for a cable with a plurality of conductors and a common shielding comprises a housing of insulating material with contacts to be connected with the conductors, and a metal hood. The housing is at least partially accommodated in the hood. The shielding of the cable can be connected to the hood and the metal hood is provided with a wall with a passage for the cable. This wall of the hood comprises an upright collar joining the passage and having a conical outer wall. A ring with a correspondingly conical inner wall can be attached on this wall of the hood while clamping the shielding of the cable between the conical outer wall of the collar and the conical inner wall of the ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a nuclear fuel assembly for leaks by sweeping a fluid along the fuel assembly while the fuel assembly is disposed in a pool. The apparatus includes a bridge overlying the pool and a mast assembly depending from the bridge. The mast assembly includes an outer, stationary mast and an inner, movable mast adapted to hold the fuel assembly and to position the fuel assembly in the interior channel between the upper and lower ends. The apparatus includes an injection assembly including an injection conduit, a nozzle and a clamp system for securing the nozzle to the outer mast. The apparatus also includes a suction conduit having an inlet disposed in fluid communication with the interior channel for collecting the fluid after the fluid sweeps the fuel assembly.

Abstract: An eddy-current probe (10) is moved in the axial direction of the clad of the rod (1), a first position of the probe (10) is determined in the axial direction, for which a signal from the probe is representative of the presence of the internal surface of the bottom end plug of the rod (1) and at least one second position for which the signal from the probe is representative of the presence of the end part of the spring of the fuel rod (1) or of the internal surface of the top end plug of the fuel rod (1). The total length and/or the length of the fissile stack are calculated from the first position and from the second position of the probe (10). The measurements may be performed inside the spent fuel storage pond of a reactor.

Abstract: A method for determining the color or color code of an object uses for example a color camera for making a color picture of the object. For a plurality of pixels of the color picture of the object distributed over the surface of the object, the S-, H- and B-values of the color picture are determined and the color is determined by comparison of these S-, H- and B-values with predetermined reference values. The B-value of each pixel is compared with a first reference value determining whether a pixel is black or not, whereafter, if the pixel is not black, the S-value of each pixel is then compared with a second reference value determining whether a pixel is colorless or not, whereafter, if the pixel is not colorless, the color of each pixel is determined by means of the H-value.

Abstract: A female electric terminal made of conductive sheet metal. The terminal has a contact body with contact first and second flexible blades which project from opposite walls of the contact body and which cooperate with a male terminal and a portion for connection to an electric cable. The blades define a gap smaller than the thickness of the male terminal. The male terminal is inserted into the gap and the blades cooperate elastically with opposite faces of the male terminal. The first and second blades are asymmetrical so as to define transversely offset contact areas on the respective faces of the male terminal.

Abstract: The method comprises providing an annular cavity in an internal part of a tapped bore of the guide cone, screwing the tapped bore of the guide cone onto the threaded end of the thermal sleeve and expanding at least part of the end of the thermal sleeve radially into the cavity of the guide cone from inside the thermal sleeve and the guide cone.

Abstract: The instrumentation column (5) comes to bear via a bearing surface and a sealing gasket (16) inside a bearing element including a tubular length (8) and a closure cover (11) joined together by screwed assembly means. The tubular length (8) and the cover (11) each include a bearing surface (33a, 34) which is symmetrical of revolution about the axis of the instrumentation column (5). The bearing surface (33a) of the cover (11) and the bearing surface (34) of the tubular length (8) between them, through direct metal-to-metal contact, provide sealing against the pressurized water of the reactor.

Abstract: A control cluster for a water cooled and moderated nuclear reactor, comprises a spider and rods suspended from the spider. Each rod contains neutron-absorbing material. In a lower portion of each rod, the material is a metal neutron absorber. In an upper portion, it is a stack of pellets of boron carbide B.sub.4 C. In a middle fraction occupying a height lying in the range 35% to 45% of the total height, it is zirconium diboride ZrB.sub.2 isotopically enriched in boron 10 or hafnium diboride HfB2.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tube suitable for use as sheath of a nuclear fuel rod zirconium based alloy. The alloy contains 0.18% to 0.25% iron, 0.07% to 0.13% chromium, 0.35% to 1.70% tin, all percentages by weight, 900 ppm to 2300 ppm oxygen, 80 ppm to 200 ppm carbon, and 50 ppm to 120 ppm silicon. A drawn blank is subjected to successive passes of metallurgical treatment and of heat treatment. The Fe/Cr ratio by weight in the alloy lies in the range 1.6 to 3. The heat treatment includes, after at least one rolling pass, a plurality of annealing passes under an inert atmosphere such that the sum .SIGMA.A is greater than 1.5.10.sup.-17, and advantageously in the range 2.10.sup.-17 to 2.10.sup.-16. The first rolling pass is performed on the tube coming from the drawing operation, without an intermediate annealing. .SIGMA.A designates the sum of the products of the times t (in hours) multiplied by the exponential of --Q/RT, where T is the temperature in K.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously separating ion exchange resin particles with upwardly flowing carrier fluid. The apparatus includes a first vertically oriented separation vessel and a first collection vessel for receiving the first fraction of resin particles from the upper zone of the first separation vessel. A first rejuvenation tank is connected to the first collection vessel for receiving the first fraction of resin particles from the first collection vessel. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a second vertically oriented separation vessel and a second collection vessel for receiving the first sub-fraction of the second fraction of resin particles from the upper zone of the second separation vessel.

Abstract: A spacer grid spring (6) consists of a single metal leaf including two end parts (6a, 6b) substantially in the same plane and a central part (6c) out of the plane of the end parts (6a, 6b). At least one of the end parts (6a, 6b) is laterally provided with two flanges (6d, 6e) folded out of the plane of the end part (6a, 6b), in the opposite direction from the central part (6c) of the spring (6). The call wall (5) intended to receive the spring (6) includes, in an arrangement adjacent to each of two dimples (7a, 7b) placed at the ends of the wall (5), a part (8a,8b) for holding an end (6a, 6b) of the spring, and an opening (10a, 10b) passing through the wall (5) adjacent to the holding part (8a, 8b).

Abstract: The electrical connector comprises a plug (12) incorporating a housing (22) and a contact-locking grid (32) designed to be inserted in the plug housing until a contact-locking position is reached, and a mounting base (10) incorporating a housing which delimits a cavity for insertion of the contact-locking grid and a drawer (14) which is inserted by force. The grid belonging to the base comprises at least one tab (60) designed to constitute a stop blocking the plug prior to engagement of the pegs in the slots in the drawer (14) when the grid in not fully inserted. This tab (60) is connected to the body of the grid by a thin part forming a hinge, which moves the plate out of the path of a plug component when the grid (32) is fully inserted.